Living in the D.R.

sr. santiago

New member
Dec 24, 2006
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Hello,

Thanks in advance for anyone that can offer some help. I am from the U.S., but I am currently living in Sao Paulo, Brasil. I am considering moving to the Dominican Republic for 4-5 months starting in Feb. I have a few questions for anyone that may be able to assist me.

1.Which city would you recommend.
..although I spend a lot of time online working..I do want to be in an area close to a good nightlife..like local bars, clubs, etc.

2.How much would you expect a nice apartment to be monthly. I dont need anything spectacular.. just an already furnished place. I would prefer to have a beach view though if possible.

3. How much would you expect a local tutor to be per hour. Besides English..I also speak Arabic and Portuguese.. and I want to pick up Spanish as well while there.

4. How much is it to travel to other caribbean countries from the D.R.

5. Besides this site.. what other online resources would you recommend..

Thanks
 

Don Juan

Living Brain Donor
Dec 5, 2003
856
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Wow, Sao Paulo?

For a slower pace with many of your requirements, I would suggest the city of Santiago except that it does not have "beach view" because it is situated, (I prefer nestled) in the central highlands.
Santo Domingo has all stipulated conditions plus it's much more cosmopolitan than anywhere in DR.
On question # 2, I'd venture to guess that for about 400US per month, you may find a comfortable enough place close to great nightlife. ( I'm thinking Gazcue or zona Colonial). But SD has no beaches. The nearest is Boca Chica, roughly, 15 miles to the east.
For great beaches, you may want to check out the small towns on the north coast that also meet many of your requisites.
A good Spanish tutor can probably cost you 10US per hour. And, if she's female and pretty, it will cost you double that... You know, dinners and stuff.:cheeky:
Don't know the answer to your other questions.
Good luck and welcome to DR1.
 

PlantaFULL

New member
Oct 21, 2004
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If you like the brasilian big city lifestyle (SP, Rio, BH etc) the capital Santo Domingo is the only choice imo. If you don't need business language but only casual conversation skills, add a spanish accent to your brasilian Portuguese and you are good to go. Everything except the minimum wage and possibly a sack of rice and beans is more expensive here then in it is in Brasil.
 

sr. santiago

New member
Dec 24, 2006
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PlantaFULL,

Thanks for the info. I expected things to be on par or a bit less expensive than Brasil. Thanks again. I think Santo Domino will be the choice then.
 

PlantaFULL

New member
Oct 21, 2004
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Unlike in Brasil, everything here is imported and therefore more expensive. Even when you think something is a local product it is often not quite. Simple things like a chicken from the supermarket. The chicken is dominican, the corn-based food mixture it got fed is imported.

The good news is if you feel "saudade do Brasil" you can drink Brahma and eat Garoto bonbons here ;)
 
Last edited:

zak023

Done and dusted!
Feb 8, 2006
589
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Look for a Place in Gazcue

PlantaFULL,

Thanks for the info. I expected things to be on par or a bit less expensive than Brasil. Thanks again. I think Santo Domino will be the choice then.

This is a nice area near the casinos the carribean and malecon area it is also pretty much safe and quiter that other areas of SD...1 bedroom apt should be about 15,000 pesos per month....... Gazcue has my vote.!!!!!!!!
 

planner

.............. ?
Sep 23, 2002
4,409
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Hello,

Thanks in advance for anyone that can offer some help. I am from the U.S., but I am currently living in Sao Paulo, Brasil. I am considering moving to the Dominican Republic for 4-5 months starting in Feb. I have a few questions for anyone that may be able to assist me.

1.Which city would you recommend.
..although I spend a lot of time online working..I do want to be in an area close to a good nightlife..like local bars, clubs, etc.

2.How much would you expect a nice apartment to be monthly. I dont need anything spectacular.. just an already furnished place. I would prefer to have a beach view though if possible.

3. How much would you expect a local tutor to be per hour. Besides English..I also speak Arabic and Portuguese.. and I want to pick up Spanish as well while there.

4. How much is it to travel to other caribbean countries from the D.R.

5. Besides this site.. what other online resources would you recommend..

Thanks

I am not sure it is this simple folks.

Some questions:

1. City : when you say nightlife - what do you mean by that? Do you want tourist syle clubs, car washes, typical Dominican clubs or the style of the hard rock cafe? Will choice of restaurants be important to you? Will you want to be around a lot of other ex pats? Do you want theatre, museums etc?

2. Apartment - will depend a great deal on the city first of all. But then do you have to have 24/7 electricity? Access to ADSL internet? One bedroom or more? Air conditioning?

3. Can't help you there. But I think with Portugese it isn't a huge leap to understand spanish.

4. Flights: depends where you are going! Many times you will have to go to Miami first and then to another island. Some have direct flights. Search the web.

5. This is easily the best source of information on the web in my opinion. But start reading other news sites. www.dominicantoday.com for one.
 

sr. santiago

New member
Dec 24, 2006
6
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0
I am not sure it is this simple folks.

Some questions:

1. City : when you say nightlife - what do you mean by that? Do you want tourist syle clubs, car washes, typical Dominican clubs or the style of the hard rock cafe? Will choice of restaurants be important to you? Will you want to be around a lot of other ex pats? Do you want theatre, museums etc?

2. Apartment - will depend a great deal on the city first of all. But then do you have to have 24/7 electricity? Access to ADSL internet? One bedroom or more? Air conditioning?

3. Can't help you there. But I think with Portugese it isn't a huge leap to understand spanish.

4. Flights: depends where you are going! Many times you will have to go to Miami first and then to another island. Some have direct flights. Search the web.

5. This is easily the best source of information on the web in my opinion. But start reading other news sites. www.dominicantoday.com for one.


I probably wasnt as clear as I should be.

1. Dominican style clubs and nightlife...salsa clubs, etc. I dont really need to be around a lot of ex-pats. Restaurant choices are not as important..but would be nice. I just want to be close to as much as the nightlife as possible so I dont have to travel far.

2. I definitely need electricity and INTERNET 24 hours a day...especially internet..internet is the most important thing. I also need a decent 1 bedroom

Thanks for the info
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
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3. How much would you expect a local tutor to be per hour. Besides English..I also speak Arabic and Portuguese.. and I want to pick up Spanish as well while there.

4. How much is it to travel to other caribbean countries from the D.R.

5. Besides this site.. what other online resources would you recommend..

Thanks

3. go to school, if you decide to live in SD it will be the best choice. i know how it is with private tutors, you take them because it is more comfy and there is no commitment but then there are always more important things and you put classes off.... school will also give you a chance to meet new people. as planner said, leap from portuguese to spanish looks like no big deal.

4. damn expensive, given the fact distances are less impressive than when you travel from europe. in most cases you'd have to travel through USA or panama so you end up spending all day travelling the distance covered by a plane in a space of 2 hours. sad.

5. i am no spanish speaker but i know some latin and enough broken spanish to understand papers, diario libre page is good.